Above: SYFS is encouraging residents to help promote Mental Health Awareness Month. (images cropped from flyer)
You may think of wearing green as just something people do in March to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But there’s another, more recent tradition, that Southborough Youth & Family Services has been seeking the community to embrace.
For the past few years, the agency has been encouraging the community to wear green and/or don green ribbons in early May to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month.
This year, Southborough will Go Green three weeks from today — on Friday, May 2nd.
SYFS’ flyer promotes:
Let’s come TOGETHER as a community to shine a light on mental wellness throughout Southborough.
Here are three actions, promoted to support the initiative:
- Wear Green – Show your support by wearing green clothing or accessories to help spread awareness.
- Grab a Ribbon – Pick up a green ribbon at community spaces around town and wear it to show your commitment to mental health awareness.
- Share Online – Post your “Going Green” photos on social media using #SouthboroughGoesGreen so we can highlight our community’s support!
The agency’s work to promote Mental Health Awareness Month will stretch beyond the 2nd. I don’t have the details on planned programs yet, but the agency always makes an effort to use May to emphasize the importance of wellness and to help reduce stigma around mental health issues.
Last year’s announcement included:
It’s a time of year that reminds us of the importance of self-care and compassion. It’s also a time for us to connect with each other and support one another as we all have been touched by mental health challenges in some way.
The department hasn’t specified where you will find ribbons. But I know the locations will include the Southborough Library later this month. (They aren’t available there yet, but keep an eye out.)
